‘Lent calls us back to God, back to basics, back to the spiritual realities of life. It calls us to put to death the sin and the indifference we have in our hearts toward God and our fellow persons. And it beckons us once again into the joy of the Lord – the joy of a new life born out of death to the old life.’ (Robert Webber Ancient Future Time pg 99).
Lent is an opportunity for us personally and corporately to get back to the spiritual realities of life. We sing songs together with lines like, “All of you is more than enough for all of me…’ Lent is an opportunity to practice these words as well as sing them. The Lenten rhythm is not a comfortable one as it calls us toward, simplicity, towards abstinence, towards living out ‘Jesus all for Jesus, all I am and have and ever hope to be.’ I would like to call our church to participate in a weekly rhythm and a Lenten rhythm for these 40 days of Lent.
Lenten Rhythm
Change, fast, abstain, or simplify something in your life for the full forty days. This could be a food, an activity, an affection or some sort of lifestyle that you will give up during lent expectant that the Lord will fill in that space with riches for your soul.
Weekly Rhythm
A weekly rhythm is an important rhythm of Lent as well. Pick one day a week to fast. This could be a full fast, a partial fast or other form of fast. Mark a day on your calendar that on a weekly basis you are making room in your life for Christ to dwell more richly. Let your Mission Group leader or your congregational leader know which day you will be fasting. Let us be accountable and be praying for one another during this season of Lent.
